Archive for the ‘Non Category’ Category

This is a fun kit to build your own solar powered boat. You provide the recycled soda bottle and the kit has everything else you need.Includes complete instructions with 3 boat designs, waterproof solar panel, motor & wires, propellers for water and air, tape, shafts and more.All you need to add is a plastic soda bottle and a sunny day! Generally recommended for ages 10 and up.

Adapted from China and associated with bringing good luck in the new year, the Shishimai (lion dance) is a longstanding tradition in Japan. Now the Shishimai Robot from You&I Co. Ltd. brings the costume, dance, and also the music to your home in a fun and stylish device.

Equipped with an internal sound sensor, the Shishimai Robot dances along to traditional music while tapping its feet and opening its mouth. Bring in the new year anytime with some song and dance!

Summary of the eRumor:Beware of scammers passing themselves off as relief organizations asking for donations. They could be phishing or attempting to steal your financial information.

The Truth:There are scammers who come to life during a time of disaster and who will try to trick us into giving money to them instead of worthy relief organizations and who will, as well, try to get our personal financial information for identity theft.

Here are some important things to keep in mind:

1. Do not respond to any email appeals for funds no matter who they appear to be from. If you get an email that seems to be from the Red Cross, for example, don’t assume that it really is. The scammers are able to put a link into the email that appears to be going to the Red Cross but in reality is linking to one of their own sites.

Other appeals will appear to be from particular individuals who are claiming to be victims of the disaster and asking for direct donations but who, in reality, are not.

2. Do not respond to any phone solicitations for the same reason. You do not know whether the people calling are really giving the funds to the organizations they claim to represent or whether your credit card information is being given to a trusted source.

3. The way to make a donation is to go directly to the official web site of any organizations you trust or to call them on the phone directly. If there are relief organizations that you know and trust, just do a web search such as through http://www.google.com and find that group’s official web site to make your contribution.

4. Avoid responding to requests for donations of clothing, tents, diapers, medicine, water, or food that are being collected to be sent to Haiti. Even if the effort is sincere, the chances of the goods getting there are very small. It is better to donate to relief organizations that are already there and buying and shipping such goods in bulk. Well meaning campaigns to collect goods to be sent to a disasater area usually result in warehouses full of things that never get there. Getting transportation of the goods is very difficult and then ensuring that even if they arrive that they won’t fall into the hands of corrupt government officials, black marketers, or thieves is very difficult.

There are numerous good relief organizations, but here are some examples if you would like to make donations that you know will be helping the people of Haiti: